United States Ninth Circuit

US v. Carter, 16-50271

Held that it was unconstitutional to permit a trial witness to testify by two-way video under the facts here. One of the alleged victims of a sex trafficking scheme testified from Minnesota by video, as she was seven months pregnant and unable to travel. Agreeing with the defendant, the Ninth Circuit held that this procedure violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses, because alternatives were available for obtaining her in-person testimony. The panel vacated his conviction on the relevant counts.